OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
MOD Channel Muter
Isolate Drums or Any Track From a MOD or XM File by Muting Channels
OneTask is free, with no sign-up, and built by one person.
If this tool saved you time, a coffee helps keep new ones coming.
How the MOD Channel Muter works
Drop a MOD, XM, S3M or IT module, list the channels to mute or solo, and this MOD channel muter renders the song without the rest. Write channels as numbers and ranges, such as 1, 3-4. Preview plays the result and Export saves it as WAV or MP3, so you can pull out a bass line, drop the drums for practice or study one part of an arrangement. libopenmpt plays the module inside this tab, so it is never uploaded.
Using the MOD channel muter
Mute these channels silences the ones you list and keeps everything else. Solo these channels does the opposite, so only the listed channels play. The Playing line in the stats shows which channels will sound before you press Preview, and it warns you if a number is outside the module's channel count.
Why channels are not instruments
A tracker channel is a voice, not an instrument. Composers often move a sound between channels, or play a drum and a bass note on the same channel in turn, because the old Amiga had only four voices. If a muted part still comes through, open the MOD pattern viewer and watch which channels it actually plays on.
Channel counts by format
How many channels each module format can hold
| Format | Typical channels | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| MOD | 4 | 32 in later PC variants |
| S3M | 8 to 16 | 32 |
| XM | 8 to 32 | 32 |
| IT | 16 to 64 | 64 |
Saving the result
Export renders the full song with the same channels muted and encodes it in the format you pick under the settings. To convert whole modules with every channel playing, use the MOD to WAV converter.
FAQ
How do I isolate the drums from a MOD file?
Open the module in the pattern viewer first and note which channels carry the drum samples, often channel 1 or 4 in a four-channel MOD. Then pick Solo these channels here, list those channels, and press Preview to check before you export.
Why does muting a channel leave some echo?
Some songs fake an echo by repeating a part quietly on another channel. That copy is a separate channel, so it keeps playing until you mute it too. Check the patterns to see where the delayed copy sits and add that channel to your list.
Can I save each channel as its own file?
Not in one go. Solo a single channel, export it, then change the number and export again. Every file renders from the start of the song at the same length, so the stems line up when you load them into an audio editor or digital audio workstation.
Is my module uploaded?
No. The module is played by libopenmpt compiled to WebAssembly and running in this tab, and nothing is sent to a server. Closing the tab clears the module and every render.
See also: all Tracker Music tools, Images, Audio, Video & Screen, PDF, SVG, Simulations & Screensavers, Generative Art, Chart Makers, 3D Model Viewers, Drawing Pads, Mockups & 3D Making, Diagram Makers, 3D Science.
Related tools
MOD Pattern Viewer
Watch a module's notes and effects scroll in time with the music.
MOD Tempo Changer
Change a module's tempo and pitch separately and save the result.
MOD Player
Play MOD, XM, S3M and IT tracker modules with a playlist and loop.
MOD To WAV Converter
Convert MOD, XM, S3M and IT modules to WAV or MP3, in bulk.
MOD Sample Extractor
Rip every sample from a MOD, XM, S3M or IT module as WAV files.